Paper-folding attachment for paper-cutting machines.



PATENTED JAN. 8, 1907.

J. BRANNAN? PAPER FOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR PAPER GUTTING MACHINES,

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24.1906.

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PATENTBD JAN, 8, 1907.

L T. J. BRANNAN.

PAPER FOLDING ATTACHMENT PORPAPER CUTTING MACHINES.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BRANNAN, OF FULTON, NEW YORK.

PAPER-FOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR PAPER-CUTTING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, 1907.

Application filed May 24:, 1906- Serial No. 318,599.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BRANNAN, of Fulton, in the county of Otsego, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Paper Folding Attachments for Paper-Cutting Machines, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a paper-folding attachment for paper-cutting machines in which the folding mechanism is operated in synchronism with and by certain rotary elements employed in the cutting-machine.

My object therefore is to associate with the cutting-machine proper a paper-folding device adapted to fold apredetermined number of sheets, as a quire of paper, as said sheets are cut and fed forwardly by the cut,- ting-machine, so that the cutting and folding is continuous in the same machine.

Another object is to provide a plurality of folding mechanisms in the same attachment whereby sheets of different sizes discharged from the cutting-machine may be folded centrally and. the folded sheets conveyed away from the folder by suitable conveyers, there by discharging the sheets of each size in different places.

Other objects and uses will appear in the following description In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan of a portion of apaper-cutting machine and my improved paper-folding attachment associatedtherewith. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a face view of a portion of one of the folding-blades and its supporting-bar. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 41, Fig. 3.

In my cutter and folder a predetermined numberas, in this instance, twenty-four sheets of the paper to be cut and folded are s'imultaneously fed from as many continuous rolls through the cutting-machine, where the paper is cut lengthwise and transversely to thedesired dimensions, and the cut sheets are then delivered by suitable conveyers to the folding attachment, where the sheets of each bun ch are folded collectively through their longitudinal or transverse centers, as may be desired, and delivered upon conveyers to be carried to any locality away from the folder.

A portion of the paper cutting machine is shown by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2 as comprising in its organization a main supportlng-frame 1, rotary cutters 2 and 3,

shearing, respectively, with suitable fixed blades 4 and 5,to which a number of sheetsin this instance twenty-fourare fed from as many continuous rolls by feeding-rollers 6, the cut sheets of paper being then delivered upon one or more conveyer-belts 7, which carry the bunches of cut sheets collectively and flatwise to the folders. The folding attachment is therefore permanently associated with the tail end of the cutting-machine and comprises, essentially, inclined beds or tables 8 and 9, arranged one in advance of the other and having their meeting edges spaced some distance apart at 10 to receive one or morein this instance twovertically-movable folding-blades 11. Each of these blades is mounted upon a verticallyrocking frame composed of rock-arms 12, which are mounted upon a shaft or fulcrum 13, and are provided with pendent extensions 14, carrying roller 15, which bear upon the periphery of the rotary cams 16. These earns 16 are driven from certain revolving parts-in this instance the rotary cutterheads 2 and 3of the paper-cutting machine, said cutter-heads being provided with pulleys which are connected by belts 17 to pulleys on the shafts of the cams 16. Each of the cams is provided with a depression 18 in one side to allow the arm 12 to drop and to thereby cause the folder-blade11 to press the center of the bunch of sheets of paper through the opening 10 and between suitable folding and feeding rollers 19, by which the folded sheets are delivered upon a conveyorbelt 20 and thereby carried to the rear end of the folding attachment and de osited upon a bed 21. (Shown by dotted ines in Fig. 2.) It is now obvious that the movement of the cams 16 and arms 12 and folding-blade 11 attached thereto are synchronized with the cutters 2- and 3, and in order that the diflerent-sized sheets may be, folded centrally I provide table 9 with stops 22, which are adjustable lengthwise of the table at the rear of the folder-blade 11, and constitute abutments for the advancing ends of the sheets .to temporarily stop the .forward movement of the said sheets during the depression of the folderblade, while forcing the central portions of the sheets through the opening 10 and between the delivery-rollers These blades and their supporting elements are preferably arranged side by side transvelsely of'the table 9, so that the strips of paper of different widths which are fed side by side upon the tables 8 and 9 beneath their respective folders 11 are each engaged and de 'ressed, through the opening 10, by one of sald folders, there being one of the stops or abutments 22 for each folder to permit sheets of different lengths to be folded centrally and simultaneously. Rotary motion is imparted to one of the rollers 19 through the medium of a belt 25, which connects the shaft of'the rear roller 19 with the shaft of one of the cams 16, as best seen in Fig. 2.

In operation the continuous strips of paper, which are of considerable width, are fed through the cutting-machine in any wellknown manner not necessary to herein describe, where they are cut to the desired width and length, and the cut sheets are then delivered upon the endless belt 7, by which they are conveyed upon the tables 8 and 9 under their respective folding-blades 11 until their advancing ends abut against theirrespective stops or abutments 22, at which time the r arms 12 and their folding-blades 11 are allowed to descend by the depression 18 in the cams 16, thereby causing the blades 11 to force the central portions of the sheets collectively through the openings 10 and between the feeding-rollers 19, which deliver the folded papers upon the endless carrier 20, the latter serving to convey the folded sheets upon the delivery-bed 21, where they may be sheets, or one quire. 5

removed in bunches, each having a predetermined numberin this instance twenty-four When sheets of different lengths or widths are required, the abutments 22 are adjusted toward or from the opening 10, so that the intervening distance is substantially equal to one-half of the length of the sheets, while the blades 11 are adjusted to suit the Width of the sheets.

The improved device may be constructed in any required width and with any required number of the adjustable stops 22 and with stops of any required length to correspond to stops 22 only are shown.

the different widths of paper to be folded; but for the purpose of illustration'two of the The longitudinal slots in the table 9, whereby the stops 22 are "rendered adjustable, enable the latter to be adjusted to correspond to the different widths of the paper, so that each width of paper will be discharged at a predetermined point or in a different place upon the conveyer-belts 20.

What I claim is 1. In a device of'the class described, a supporting-frame, two tables disposed transversely of said frame and with their adjacent edges spaced at a relatively short distance, one of said tables having a plurality of longitudinal slots, folding-rollers operating below the spaces between the adjacent edges of said tables, a plurality of stop members bearing over said slotted table, a clamping means carried by said stop members and operating through said slots, means for-simultaneously feeding paper in varying lengths over said tables and against said several stop members, folding-blades corresponding in number to said stop members, means for simultaneously actuating said folding-bladesto cause them to extend through a space between the adjacent edges of said tables and carrying the paper to the folding-rollers.

2. In a device of the class described, a supporting-frame, two tables disposed transversely of said frame and with their adjacent edges spaced at a relatively short distance,

tween the adjacent edges ofsaid table, stop members corresponding in number with the varying widths of paper to be folded and disposed transversely of one of said tables, means for independently adjusting said stop members to correspond with the varying widths to be folded, means for simultaneously feeding paper in varying lengths over members, folding-blades corresponding in number to said stop members, means for simultaneously actuating said folding-blades to cause them to extend through a space becarrying the paper to the folding-rollers.

3. In a device of the class described, a supporting-frame, two tables disposed transversely of said frame with their adjacent edges spaced at a relatively short distance, folding-rollers operating below the space between the adjacent edges of said tables, stop members corresponding in number with the varying widths of paper to be folded and disposed transversely of one of said tables, means for independently adjusting said stop members to correspond with the varying widths of paper to be folded, means for simultaneously feeding paper in varying lengths over said tables and against said several stop members, arms swinging from said frame and provided with head members corresponding to the stop members and each provided'with spaced longitudinal slots, folding-blades bearing upon each of said heads and secured adjustably thereto by clamp-screws operating through the slots in said head members, and

means for simultaneously actuating said folding-rollers operating below the space besaid tables and against said several stop tween the adjacent edges of said tables and arms and the folding-blades carried thereby.

4. In a device of the classdescribed, a supporting-frame, two tables disposed trans versely of said frame with their adjacent edges spaced at a relatively short distance,

folding-rollers operating below the space between the adjacent edges of said tables, stop members corresponding in number with the varying widths of paper to be folded and disposed transversely of one of said tables, means for independently adjusting said stop members to correspond with the varying widths of paper to be folded, means for simultaneously feeding paper in varying lengths over said tables and against said several stop members, arms mounted to swing upon said frame and provided with head members corresponding to the various widths of paper to be folded and each arm provided with a depending projection, the folding-blades carried by each of saidheads, and cams arranged to simultaneously engage said projections and elevate said folding-blades after each action.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of May, 1906.

- JOHN BRANNAN. Witnesses:

H. P. DENIsoN, MILDRED M. Now. 

